Xpress Reviews-First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 02/26/2008
The week of February 26, 2008
Nonfiction
Ashley, Steven. The Long-Distance Dad: How You Can Be There for Your Child—Whether Divorced, Deployed, or on the Road. Adams Media. Mar. 2008. c.256p. index. ISBN 978-1-59869-441-3. pap. $12.95. CHILD REARING
Verdict: This practical how-to will boost the spirits of dads who can’t live with their children because of div
orce or other circumstances. Parenting collections need this niche filler for an underserved audience.
Background: Ashley, founder of the Divorced Father’s Network, brings a healthy dose of passion to his parenting guide for fathers must who live far from their children. He packs short, digestible sections with real-life examples of dads who have somehow made long-distance parenting work. Though upbeat, Ashley isn’t peddling empty platitudes—his direct, realistic perspective will enlighten readers and combines well with positive, commonsense material (e.g., "nothing matters more to your children than knowing that you love them"). The book is partial to coparenting, that is, getting along with the kids’ mom, and provides men with a heads-up about the anger, sadness, and expenses that can rack up and spoil the parent-child bond. Coverage also encompasses dating, balancing work and family, parenting factors for different ages of children, and taking advantage of technology that can keep dads and kids connected.—Douglas C. Lord, Connecticut State Lib., Hartford
Doraiswamy, P. Murali, M.D. & Lisa P. Gwyther with Tina Adler. The Alzheimer’s Action Plan: The Experts’ Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment. St. Martin’s. Apr. 2008. c.496p. index. ISBN 978-0-312-35539-5. $26.95. HEALTH
Verdict: Evidence-based content, conversational writing, and a good dose of humor make this an outstanding addition to collections on aging and caregiving and an excellent companion to Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins’s The 36-Hour Day. Highly recommended.
Background: This book is based on the belief that people with Alzheimer’s "have the right to access the best, most personalized care possible." Physician Doraiswamy (chief of biological psychiatry, Duke Univ. Medical Ctr.) and social worker Gwyther (founder, Duke Univ. Alzheimer’s Family Support Program; Steps to Success) compile a wealth of essential information on all aspects of memory disorders for both new and experienced caregivers and individuals with failing memories. Detailed discussions cover causes and diagnoses, disease-related behavioral and emotional changes, available and future drug treatments, the benefits of participating in clinical trials, and more, along with a host of practical tips intended to enable caregivers and patients to live the best life possible. Resources include "Our Top 40 Questions and Answers"; a list of dementia-related organizations, books, and web sites; and tips for maintaining a healthy brain.—Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Inst. Lib., Cleveland
Garabedian, Helen. Itsy Bitsy Yoga® for Toddlers and Preschoolers: 8-Minute Routines To Help Your Child Grow Smarter, Be Happier, and Behave Better. Da Capo Lifelong. Mar. 2008. c.218p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-60094-008-8. pap. $16.95. HEALTH
Verdict: As a mother, yoga practitioner, and former pediatric occupational therapist, this reviewer highly recommends this useful guide for public libraries and specialized health collections.
Backg
round: Garabedian, the founder and CEO of Itsy Bitsy Yoga, has compiled her knowledge into a practical book for caregivers wishing to incorporate yoga into a child’s life. Based on her popular "Itsy Bitsy Yoga Tots and Tykes" classes (designed for children ages two to five), the book summarizes the benefits of children’s yoga, including decreased tantrums, improved sleep, and better listening skills (what parent could resist?). Presenting clear directions, games, rhymes, and illustrations for 50 age-appropriate poses, Garabedian shows caregivers how to incorporate yoga easily into a child’s daily routine. Garabedian’s mantra—"A Fit Baby=A Fit Toddler=A Fit Preschooler=A Fit School-Aged Child=A Fit Teen=A Fit Adult"—best summarizes the influence that parents and caregivers can have on a child’s healthy lifestyle.—Lisa Forrest, SUNY Buffalo Lib.
Haffner, Debra W. What Every 21st-Century Parent Needs To Know: Facing Today’s Challenges with Wisdom and Heart. Newmarket. Apr. 2008. c.240p. index. ISBN 978-1-55704-787-8. $24.95; pap. ISBN 978-1-55704-726-7. $16.95. CHILD REARING
Verdict: Haffner’s intentions are good, but her use of research is questionable. Pass this over in favor of a more rigorous treatment.
Background: An educator and parenting expert who has appeared on Oprah and The Today
Show, Haffner (From Diapers to Dating) wants to calm the nerves of modern-day moms and dads who are inundated with information on hot topics like ADHD medication, depression in children, and teen sex. Chapters seek to dispel what she deems as media myths, like the negative impact of television viewing on children. Although Haffner cites research to support her claims, as she herself points out, research involving children and teenagers is scant owing to ethics and young populations. Also, in some cases, this reviewer got the impression that Haffner presented only one side of the data available. To back her point about television viewing, for instance, she uses one recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation that appears to refute all claims that watching television does damage.—Susan E. Thomas, Indiana Univ. Lib., South Bend
Kropp, Tori. The Joy of Pregnancy: The Complete, Candid, and Reassuring Companion for Parents
-to-Be. Harvard Common, dist. by National Bk. Network. Apr. 2008. c.400p. index. ISBN 978-1-55832-305-6. $26.95; pap. ISBN 978-1-55832-306-3. $14.95. HEALTH
Verdict: This deserves to be on all consumer and public library shelves, not least because it has the most up-to-date information available but because the information is so clear and compassionate.
Background: Partly in reaction to several of the current best-selling pregnancy guides, Kropp—a perinatal nurse and child-birth educator—has written a book that does not belabor potential problem areas during this ten-month journey. Instead, she gives similar coverage to both the joyful and the challenging aspects without being alarmist. Kropp keeps the excitement of pregnancy alive in chapters on what’s happening to a woman's body, important things to know, relevant letters and replies from the author’s Ask Tori, R.N. resource, and issues for dads.—Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Los Alamos Cty. P.L. Syst., NM
Marano, Hara Estroff. A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting. Broadway. Apr. 2008. c.272p. index. ISBN 978-0-7679-2403-0. $23.95. SOC SCI
Verdict: Marano’s essential argument was originally published in the article that gave rise to this book. Fresh content makes for a worthwhile concluding chapter, but overall, this makes a limited contri
bution to parenting literature. Larger collections can consider.
Background: For the past 15 years, Marano has been the editor at large of Psychology Today, for which she writes a regular advice column. Here, she expands on an article she wrote for Psychology Today in 2004, arguing that high-powered, affluent parents seek fulfillment and meaning in their own lives by becoming overinvolved with their children’s lives. This, she says, has resulted in a cohort of children who are unable to cope with any adversity or to think for themselves. These children become young adults who subsequently collapse psychologically in their first years in college or while away from home. After laying out her thesis, Marano coaches parents on how to let go.—Fran Mentch, Cleveland State Univ. Lib.
Redfern, Suzanne & Susan K. Gilbert. The Grieving Garden: Living with the Death of a Child. Hampton Roads. Mar. 2008. c.304p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-57174-581-1. pap. $16.95. PSYCH
Verdict: Ultimately, this book shows that comfort, healing, and even growth are possible after the death of a child
. This powerfully authentic book is highly recommended for large public libraries and counseling collections.
Background: It’s hard to imagine anything worse than the death of a child. Redfern and Gilbert reflect on their own experiences with such a tragedy and recount the stories of 22 other parents whose children died at a variety of ages and from causes ranging from disease and accidents to suicide and terrorism. The authors organize the interviews in a way that mirrors the stages of the grieving process, including immediate reactions, seeking support, effects on family life and relationships, integrating the loss into one’s life, and maintaining connections with a loved one. Simple words, carefully edited, convey eloquent and practical insights into the bereavement experience. Grieving, it is suggested, is not an orderly process; survivors often face family disruption and career malaise. Professional help may or may not be helpful. Several complain about the inane, inappropriate things people said to them upon their loss.—Antoinette M. Brinkman, M.L.S., Evansville, IN
Scott, Gini Graham. American Murder. 2 vols. Praeger. 2007. 504p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-275-98388-8. $125. CRIME
Verdict: Although the extensive bibliography will appeal to true-crime aficionados, this set is simply too expensive and therefore cannot be recommended.
Background: Scott, the author of numerous nonfiction titles on crime, travel, and managem
ent (e.g., A Survival Guide to Managing Employees from Hell), has compiled ten chapters (one chapter for each decade of the 20th century) of murder case studies to illustrate the evolution of homicide and homicide investigation in America. While she begins each chapter by setting the context, she does so by relying too heavily on other works. For instance, every chapter opens with extensive reference to Roger Lane’s classic Murder in America. While the cases included (two to four per decade) are quite compelling, many of them have been told before (e.g., Elizabeth "The Black Dahlia" Short, David "Son of Sam" Berkowitz). She ends with the murder of Tupac Shakur over a decade ago; it is not apparent that she includes current updates to her most recent cases.—Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia
